The background to this unusual inscription is discussed by N.Purcell, in "The Sea: Thalassography and Historiography", pp.85-86 ( Google Books ). The cult of Kybele, the 'Great Mother', was popular in Kyzikos; see L.E.Roller, "In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian Cybele", pp.332-334 ( Google Books ).
When Bouleides son of Metrodoros was hipparch. Soterides the gallos offered a prayer to Mother (?) Kotyana on behalf of his own partner Marcus Stlaccius son of Marcus, who served in the allied force that was sent to imperator Gaius [Julius] Caesar, son of [Gaius], in Africa, under the command of the hipparch Theognetos son of Apollonios, in the quadrireme ship Soteira; Marcus was taken prisoner from Africa and carried off [into slavery], but the goddess spoke to me in a [dream], telling me that Marcus had been taken prisoner, but [had been saved from] great dangers; I called upon [her] . . .
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